Ultrasound finger probe

Abstract

An ultrasound probe (“probe”) for use with an ultrasound imaging system is disclosed. In particular, the probe is sized and configured so as to be supported and readily used with as little as one finger on a single hand of a user of the imaging system. This configuration enables remaining fingers on the hand of the user to be employed for other purposes, such as skin traction and patient contact. In one embodiment, therefore, an ultrasound probe is disclosed, comprising a body, a lens included on head portion of the body, a stabilizing portion extending from the body and configured to stabilize the body on a skin surface of a patient without user assistance, and a finger grip portion configured to enable a user of the probe to grasp and maneuver the probe during use thereof with no more than two fingers on a single hand of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasound probe, comprising:
 a body; 
 a lens included on a head portion of the body through which ultrasound signals can be passed, the lens providing a first skin contact surface for the ultrasound probe; 
 a stabilizing portion extending from the body, the stabilizing portion having a bottom surface adjacent a skin surface of a patient when the lens is placed on the skin surface, the bottom surface of the stabilizing portion providing a second skin contact surface for the ultrasound probe; 
 an articulating component interposed between the body and the stabilizing portion; and 
 a finger grip portion configured to enable a user of the ultrasound probe to grasp and maneuver the ultrasound probe during use thereof with no more than two fingers on a single hand of the user, wherein the stabilizing portion is configured to move across the skin surface of the patient along with the finger grip portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the finger grip portion is configured to enable the user to grasp and maneuver the ultrasound probe with a single finger. 
     
     
       3. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the finger grip portion and the stabilizing portion are included in a singular structure. 
     
     
       4. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the finger grip portion includes at least one of a ring structure and a C-shaped structure. 
     
     
       5. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the stabilizing portion includes an arm extending from the body of the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       6. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the stabilizing portion is included with the ring structure. 
     
     
       7. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the ring structure defines a cylindrical ring. 
     
     
       8. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the finger grip portion further includes a saddle portion configured to receive a finger thereon. 
     
     
       9. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the finger grip portion is disposed co-linearly above the lens in a spaced-apart configuration when the ultrasound probe is positioned on the skin surface of the patient. 
     
     
       10. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the finger grip portion includes a tab extending from the body of the ultrasound probe and the stabilizing portion includes an angled arm extending from the body of the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       11. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the finger grip portion is configured to be engaged by at least one of a forefinger and a middle finger of the hand of the user. 
     
     
       12. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least a thumb and a finger of the hand of the user are configured to be free to use when the hand of the user is grasping the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       13. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the articulating component includes a ball and socket configuration. 
     
     
       14. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the stabilizing portion is proximate the lens. 
     
     
       15. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the finger grip portion includes an hourglass-shaped surface bounded by a top disk and a bottom disk, wherein the hourglass-shaped surface, the top disk, and the bottom disk are defined by the body of the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       16. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the finger grip portion includes first and second concave channels defined by the body of the ultrasound probe, the ultrasound probe defining a wedge shape. 
     
     
       17. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion includes a notch configured for receiving a cable of the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       18. The ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the finger grip portion is configured to enable the hand of the user to be positioned parallel with respect to the skin surface of the patient. 
     
     
       19. An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
 a console; 
 a display included with the console; and 
 the ultrasound probe as defined in  claim 1 .